Latch



Feb. 6, 1940. l A, A. MARTIN 2,189,672

LATCH Filed April 3, 1937 1110623501" 14 2O A./\.I"IARTEN gig awa rag Patented Feb. 6, 1940 t U-NlTED STATES PATENT oFFi'jca'f Angus A. Martin, Dorchester, Mass. Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,825

Claims.

' i This invention relates to latches and I have 'herein'disclosed'the same in combination with a safety razor of the type shown in U. S. Patent No.

1,951,552, the improved latch means being ap- 3 plied to the handle elements of the razor. The

l0 blade, to" a"'cl osed position in'which the handle elements are in engagement to provide the razor handle. The razor'is in the closed shaving position when the handle elements are in such engagernent and it is desirable that these handle elements shall not only come squarely into engagement but also that they shall remain in such engagementat all times, otherwise the handle will not only present a biased appearance but misalignment of the sections is liable to affect proper engagement of the head with the blade.

The primary'object of my invention is the production of improved latch means carried by and cooperating with two pivoted sections in a 'manner preventing relative movement thereof longitudinally or laterally when in engagement. In its preferred form, the latch means comprises two latches integral with the two sections respectively and cooperating with recesses in the sections. the free ends of the latches being in opposed relation and extending beyond-the combined sections when in latched engagement.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which: i

Fig. l is a front elevation of a safety razor embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is an end View showing the end of the razor handle in elevation,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the handle and latches in disengaged relation,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof.

In the drawing I have illustrated my invention in connection with a safety razor of'the well-known "Gillette type wherein a blade holding head In is attached to and supported on a handle I2. The handle illustrated is of tubular construction and comprises two semicylindrical section's lZa and I22) pivoted to the head In at I4. Integral with the pivoted ends of the handle sections are guard teeth l5 which in the closed position of the razor cooperate with the head to grip a blade l6 therebetween. The blade may be inserted or removed upon pivoting the handle sections to the fully open position, 1;.

When the handle sections are in closed position they cooperate to form the razor handle and it is desirable that in such position the handlev sections shall be in accurate alignment bo-tlilong-itudinally and transversely. Such alignment is desirable not only for the purpose of [giving the razor sections the neat appearance and rigidity "of a unitary handle but also toprevent' any misalignment of the blade with and alonglih handle and guard teeth due to misalignmentof the handle sections. I have herein illustrated and pre fer to use two latches l8 for serving these functions, and these latches may be conveniently and economically formed as integral parts of the handle sections and project inwardly from the free such that when the two handle sections are pressed together the curved ends 20 ride into the recesses 24 and the latches snap into engagement with the shoulders 22 in holding contact with the edge walls of the recesses 24. Furthermore, in the closed position, the two latches are parallel and in contact as illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that the engagement of the latches over the ends of the handle sections bring and hold the sections in perfect alignment longitudinally. It will also be apparent that the engagement of the latches with each other and Within the recesses 24 bring the sections into and hold them in perfect alignment laterally. The latches are released and the handle sections brought to open position merely by pressing inwardly on the free ends of the latches and this action is facilitated by extending the latches .to a position beyond the handle when the sections are in latched engagement. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the free ends of the latches are in opposedrelation wherein the opposed pressures thereon balance each other when releasing the latches.

It will be understood that in its broader aspect my invention comprises an improved latch and that more specifically it comprises a safety razor or the like employing this improved latch, it being apparent that the latch can in like manner be employed in bags or like articles having two pivoted elements which it is desired to releasably latch together in predetermined relation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the class described, compris ng a body :portion and a pair of handle sections attached to said portion and independently movable into engagement with each other to provide a handle, and two latches respectively integral with the two sections at the free ends thereof and each engaging with the other section to hold the sections together when 'they are in such engagement, the free ends of :said latches being in opposed relation and extending laterally of and beyond the handle when the sections are in latched engagement.

,2. A safety razor comprising a blade holdin head portion and a pair of handle sections attached to said portion and independently movaible into engagement with each other to provide a handle, and latch .means carried by and cooperating with the sections and including relatively angular shoulders on one section in engagement with cooperating shoulders on the other section and preventing relative lateral movement of the sections in any direction when the sections are in latched engagement.

3. Adevice of the class described, comprising two elements connected together for movement into and from latched relation, two latches carried respectively by the two elements and each extending toward the other element, the latches being so contiguous to each other in the latched relation as to prevent substantial movement of the elements laterally toward each other, and a shoulder on each element contiguous to the outwardly facing edge of the latch carried by the other element whereby to prevent substantial movement of the elements laterally away from each other.

4. The device defined in claim 3 in which the latch of each element extends over an outer end surface of the other element whereby to prevent substantial outward movement of each element longitudinaly relative to the other element.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a pairof pivotally joined sections pivotally movable into and from cooperation with each other, and two latches respectively carried by the sections ,in position to engage within two recesses respectively in .the sections when the sections are brought together, the latches having shoulders on their free ends and sides contiguous to shoulders on the sections and bordering said recesses whereby respectively to prevent separating movement of the sections and substantial relative lateral movement thereof toward and away from each other transversely of the latches when the sections are moved into latched relation, and the free ends of the latches extendin laterally beyond the sections when the sections are in latched relation.

ANGUS A. MARTIN. 

